Song of the Day: Cloud Nothings – Can’t Stay Awake

Every Monday through Friday, we deliver a different song as part of our Song of the Day podcast subscription. This podcast features exclusive KEXP in-studio performances, unreleased songs, and recordings from independent artists that our DJs think you should hear. Each and every Friday we offer songs by local artists. Today’s selection, featured on the Afternoon Show with Kevin Cole, is “Can’t Stay Awake” by Cloud Nothings from his 2010 album Turning On, released on Carpark Records.

Cloud Nothings is a rocky kick of popped out, dirtied up numbers in the vein of The Thermals or lo-fi Mountain Goats LPs. Though the name is just a moniker for one man, Dylan Baldi, that one man has got the enthusiasm and motivation of an entire band. At age 18, Baldi recorded Turning On in his parents’ basement, dropping out of college along the way to open for Woods and Real Estate.

Talent aside, Baldi is certainly not an old soul in the world of music. His youth shines brightly and ambitious through all his roughed up, straight forward jams. It’s just a matter of maturing in the limelight and continuing to stay relevant in an up-to-the-minute music blog world. Like a sucker covered in sand, Cloud Nothings is both gritty and sugar-sweet. He may not be John Darnielle or Hutch Harris, but both those remarkably talented lo-fi kings have a huge head start on this multi-talented youngster. Check out his music and keep an eye out for this guy. Watch the quirky video for his track “Hey Cool Kid” while you’re at it: